Royal Adelaide Hospital

A parkland in a hospital—as part of the largest health and research precinct in the southern hemisphere, the New Royal Adelaide Hospital reframes the care paradigm, putting the patient experience first.

Designed as a journey to health environment, the 800-bed facility has all inpatient beds in single rooms with ensuites and operable windows, to bring patients privacy, fresh air and garden outlooks. Artworks and restorative courtyard garden spaces for patients and staff are also integral.

Technical innovations include clinicians treating patients in their rooms, and a fleet of robots to deliver supplies and food throughout – a first for Australian public hospitals. Environmental innovations will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50 per cent.

Innovation underpins everything. The facility caters to more than 80,000 patients a year with 800 beds, 40 operating theatres, healing gardens, and a community retail precinct.

Location: Kaurna Country
Adelaide, South Australia
Client: SA Health, HYLC Joint Venture
Value: $1.85B
Scale: 258,000m²
Year: 2017
Collaborators: Silver Thomas Hanley
Project Contact: Richard Does
Photography: Sandor Duzs
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Leading technology

Tele-health facilities reaching remote rural areas
Information kiosks for visitor navigation
Robots delivering food and equipment
Wireless patient-nurse call system
Disaster response and quarantine facilities
Earthquake-proof, with independent water and power supply

We saw the opportunity to design ’a hospital within a park, a park within a hospital’. That idea of bringing nature into the healing spaces reshaped the architecture, and the nature of care, in quite a radical way.
Richard Does
Director

Healing people

Naturally lit and ventilated indoor environments and winter gardens
Respite areas for patients and staff
Retail precinct with child care centre, convenience shops, food court atrium and gymnasium
Flexible workplace hubs (Blue Space)
Aboriginal Health Centre

Healing environment

Orientation optimised to increase natural light and minimise solar thermal load
Water conservation through rainwater harvesting for non-potable use and more
Energy efficient fittings, Co-generation system turning waste heat into energy
Responsible materials: low-VOC paints, flooring and acoustic insulation
Water and power metering to track and report on consumption
Integrated art from sculpture gardens to photography of South Australian landscapes